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Is social media being used to target the disenfranchised in swing states? Is social media being used to target the disenfranchised in swing states?
Yes, social media is being used to target the disenfranchised in swing states Yes, social media is being used to target the disenfranchised in swing states
No, social media is not being used to target the disenfranchised in swing states No, social media is not being used to target the disenfranchised in swing states
During the 2016 US election polarising content was concentrated in swing states During the 2016 US election polarising content was concentrated in swing states
Social media has made it easier to target specific areas anonymously Social media has made it easier to target specific areas anonymously
Disinformation was circulated online during the 2020 presidential primaries Disinformation was circulated online during the 2020 presidential primaries
Lies surrounding coronavirus are being spread to stop voters from showing up Lies surrounding coronavirus are being spread to stop voters from showing up
Foreign states have attempted to influence the 2020 election Foreign states have attempted to influence the 2020 election
Celebrity endorsements are influencing voter opinions Celebrity endorsements are influencing voter opinions
The majority of Americans were not exposed to fake news during the 2016 election The majority of Americans were not exposed to fake news during the 2016 election
Voter suppression is a myth Voter suppression is a myth
Social media’s influence on voters is exaggerated Social media’s influence on voters is exaggerated
Twitter is robust to the spread of fake news Twitter is robust to the spread of fake news
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Is social media being used to target the disenfranchised in swing states?
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Yes, social media is being used to target the disenfranchised in swing states

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Foreign states have attempted to influence the 2020 election

Social media is being used to target the disenfranchised in swing states. Foreign states have attempted to suppress certain groups of the population from voting.
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The Argument

Foreign states have already attempted to influence the 2020 US presidential election. The attacks have included those intending to discourage voters from supporting certain front-runner candidates.[1] Stories have also been circulating suggesting that American elections are rigged.[2] The intended outcome seems to be to erode trust in the American government as well as to undermine confidence in the integrity of the 2020 US presidential election. At the end of 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned election officials in US states that Russia could try to interfere in the 2020 presidential election by discouraging voter turnout.[3] This is a particular issue in swing states.

Counter arguments

Foreign interference is not as severe as it has been suggested. In some cases, foreign meddlers may simply be amplifying falsehoods and misinformation that is already being spread by American social media users.[4]

Premises

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/new-evidence-shows-how-russias-election-interference-has-gotten-more
  2. https://www.fpri.org/fie/russia-election-integrity-2020/
  3. https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/03/politics/russia-voter-suppression-warning/index.html
  4. https://www.npr.org/2020/09/29/917725209/russia-doesn-t-have-to-make-fake-news-biggest-election-threat-is-closer-to-home
This page was last edited on Saturday, 24 Oct 2020 at 16:44 UTC

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